The MSME Cash Flow Credit Information Interchange Platform (CFCII) is established by the People’s Bank of China (PBC) with the joint participation of financial institutions. Credit Reference Center, the People’s Bank of China (CCRC) is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the CFCII. As a centralized and unified Platform, the CFCII aims to facilitate MSME access to finance by promoting the sharing of their bank cash-flow data based on the principles of open banking data sharing, real-time interaction, and on-demand access.

The MSME cash-flow credit information is statistical information derived from the transaction process of MSMEs and does not contain their sensitive information. It can reflect the economic activities of MSMEs such as business operation, revenue and expenditure, affordability, performance of contracts, thus being regarded as a kind of high-quality MSME credit information.

Each MSME can have its own cash-flow credit information account (referred to as “data account”) on the CFCII. Once going through the identification process, an MSME can log into its data account to consent to the transfer and use of its bank account cash-flow data, check the transferred data, file complaint, and make consultation. In this way, MSMEs can fully take control of the transfer and use of their cash-flow data for the purpose of getting credit.

The CFCII is a new initiative to solve the thin-file problem facing many MSMEs. It provides credit information service that covers the whole credit life-cycle of MSMEs to help financial institutions make better credit decisions on MSME customers. By releasing the potential of new data elements, it is committed to the objective of promoting technology finance, green finance, inclusive finance, old-age finance, and digital finance, thereby providing financial services for the real economy. It also aims to lay down a more inclusive and fairer information foundation for the credit market and further improving China’s business enabling environment.